Electric flash light



l Dec. 6, 1932.

J. SHANNON 1,889,936

ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT Filed March -1l, 1930 INVENTOR, Jamas l. 5m/MIZ,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED-e si'.Missg PATENT ori-lcs JAMES L. SHANNON, or LONGMEADOW, MAssAcHusETTs, assiGNon, BY ivrEsNE AssIGN'- y, MENTS, To FRENCH BATTERY coivrrAyNY, oTfMADIsON, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORA- V TION F WISCONSIN ELECTRICk FLASH. LIGHT Y Application led March 11,` 1930. Serial No. 434,942.

This invention relates to improvements in electric flashlights of the type in whichV dry cells are placedin an enclosing tubularshaped casing; one end of the casing having a detachable'closure member for inserting andremoving the dry cells. The opposite endjofgthis casing is provided with a cap or head piece in which is removably inserted the reflector that isA provided with bulb sockets. Secured in l0 the socketsare a plurality of electric bulbs which are in electric circuit when the reflector is placed in the cap piece. notshown, are provided for closing the circuits to the different bulbs.

the cap piece is formed with a threaded portion that receives theibezel for securingthe lensVv in place and for attaching the reflector tothe cap piece.

An object of the present'invention is to provide means for accurately positioning the bulbsin `the cap piece with respectto the different circuits, so that when the reflector is inserted, the lamp terminals in their. sockets will engage the contact strips and close the electric circuit.

Afurther object isy to provide meansV for preventingthe displacementoiv the reflector,`

after insertion in thecap piece..y

lThe invention comprises a removable cylindricallyfshaped cage-like member, one edge of which is formed with a` struclup or in-v dented portion that is designed to enter a recess in lthe upperend of the battery enclosing casing forfthe purpose ofretaining it in place and foraligningthe lamp terminals.

This cage member isformed with cutout openings to receive the ends `of the electric Contact strips, the bottom or base portion of this member is formed with a rectangular i0 shaped opening to receive a correspondingly shaped member on the reflector, whereby when the rectangular shaped member enters therectangular shaped opening of the cagelike member, the reflector cannot be axially n rotated out of its assembled position, also the lamp terminals in the sockets are brought directly into contactwith the circuit strips, as will be described. The cap piece is formed with an enlarged portion for receiving the cage-like or barrel shaped member in order Suitable switches,

The outer end of' to permit its easy insertion and removal, ifv

necessary. Means is provided for insulating the reflector from the cap member.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional viewconsidered in a plane passing thru ther axis of the enclosing casing illustrating theA Vcasing and cap member in section and there-y flector with the lamp terminals engaging the contact strips, also, the rectangular shaped portion on the reflector entering a 'correspondingly shaped opening in the remov able cage member.

F ig.4 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig.l 1 looking in the direction of:

the arrows showing the struck-up yportion .of the cage or barrel member entering a depres-l sion or slot in the end of the battery enclosing casing, also showing the three contact strips and the battery terminal.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on-:th'e

line 'of Fig. 1 looking lin the directioniof the arrows yshowing the rectangular: shaped part on the reflector in the correspondingly shaped part in the cage or barrel member, the three `contact strips, and

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the cage or barrel member removed from lthe casing. y y v Referring to the drawing in detail v1 designates the venclosing casing formed, as shown, of insulating material, 2 the cap 0r head member having the portion Swhichis secured to the casing 1 in any suitable way, as for example, with hollow rivets. 3 desig-r nat-es an enlarged portion of the cap piece 2.`

end ofthe cap 2 `for insulating-the reflector from the cap, as shown at 14'; 15is a wire ring locatedin the bead lportion 16 for'preventing the1ringof`insulation being forced into the cap when the bezel 12 is tightened. One of the battery cells is indicated at 17, the terminalr18 of which engage the contact strip 19 that closes the circuit With the reflector 4, as indicated at 20. The other circuit strips are indicated at 191, 192 and 193.

Referring to Fig. 4, 21 indicates as a Whole a hollow cage-like or barrel member which is located in the enlarged portion 3 of the cap 2. This member is formed with a struck-up or indented portion 22 in the rim 23. This struck-up portion is designedk to enter the notch 24 that is formed in the upper end of the casing 1, as clearly shown in the Figs. 1 and 2. When the cage member isV inserted, it is therefore accurately positioned against displacement on the casing 1. The side of the cage member 21 is formed with the three cutout openings 25, 2,6, and 27, for receiving the contact strips, see Fig.Y 1. The top 28 of this member is formed with the square or rectangular shaped opening 29. The'purpose of this shaped opening is to receive the rectangular shaped part 30 that is fixedly secured to the socket 9 of the reflector, whereby when this rectangular shaped portion enters the opening 29, it prevents the reflector and all of the bulb terminals from becoming displaced against rotation with reference to the contact strips, since the cage-member is secured to the casing against rotation With the recess 24 and projection 22. It Will be seen from this description that I have provided an electric flashlight construction in Which aY removable cake-like member is employed and is formed with an angular shaped opening for receiving a correspondingly shaped co-operating part on the reflector for positioning the reflector and the terminals of the bulbs, also with means co-operating between the cage-like member and the cell receiving casing for preventing the cage from` being turned relative to the casing,

. whereby both the reflector and cage are retained in'place, the construction and arrangement of which parts accurately aligns the lamp terminals With the several circuit strips. @ne of the advantages of the present construction resides in'the elimination of a disk of` insulation that is employed in a great many different types of flashlights. i The ring ofV insulation shown at 14 is located at a pointthat is substantially removed from the contact terminals and by reason of its edge projecting above the end of the cap, as shown at 14', the reflector is thoroughly insulated from the cap piece. Not `only does the rectangular opening 29 and the rectangular part 30 provide for the accurate positioning of the lamp terminals, it `also prevents the reflector from being rotated when the bezel member 12 is tightened.

Y It is, of course, obvious that the shape of the opening 2 9 and part 30 may be changed, as

triangular, in order to accomplish the same purpose.

What I claim is:

1. In a flashlight construction, in combination with a battery enclosing casing, a cap for the casing, a cage member connected to the casing and having co-operating means between the casing and cage member to prevent rotation of the cage member, after insertion, a reflector, lamp sockets thereon, a square part lon the central lamp socket off the reflector engaging a square central opening in the ca ge member for preventing annular movement of the reflector relative to the cage member, contact strips for the lamps, the construction and arrangement being such that when the reflector is inserted in the cap, it is accurately positioned to bring thev lamp ter-. mmals in contact with the circuit strips, means for attaching the reflector to the cap and sleeve means for insulating the cap from the reflector.

2. As an article of manufacture, a cagelike member for the purpose described, having a rim portion With an offset part, the sides of the cage memberl having openings therein to receive circuit strips andthe end of the cage member being formed With an angular shaped opening.

3. In an electric flashlight in combination With battery enclosing casing one end of Which is formed With a notch, a cap member, a reflector, lamps thereon, a cage member havlng a part engaging the notch for retaining it in place on the casing and openings for receiving circuit strips, a portion of saidmember having an angular shaped opening for receivlng a correspondingly shaped portion on the reflector of the ashlight, whereby When said portion on the reector enters the opening in the base, the lamp terminals Will engage the circuit strips and prevent the reflector from movement relative to the capmember.- Y

4. A flashlight construction having in combination with the casing. member of aV cage-like member engaging the casing member, a lamp carrying reflector, co-operatingr means between the casing and the cage member for retaining the same against displacement, relative to the casing, an end of the cage-like member having an angular shaped opening to receive a correspondingly shaped member on the reflector, whereby when the reflector is inserted, the lamp terminals are accurately positioned, as described, and the reflector is retained againstmovement.

JAMES L. SHANNON. v 

